2025 Scholarship Recipients
Adrianna DENISE Haskin
Every story has a beginning.
My story began on February 20, 2008, in New York City. Raised in an environment conducted by my mother and grandmother, I learned from a very young age that a person's foundation is imperative to their own success. My foundation came from the examples I had before me, teaching me the three core beliefs I have today.
1. My knowledge is a weapon. Aim to sharpen it at every opportunity, and never waste it.
2. Kindness will cost me nothing, but my generosity does not mean I shouldn’t prioritize myself.
3. I should surround myself with people who have a genuine investment in me and growth as an individual.
I work to amplify these beliefs in every part of my life. School has always been extremely important to me. Along with making sure my education is well-rounded, school has also given me the opportunity to follow my personal passions. These passions include theater, sports, and a more in-depth connection with math. Theater has always been in my life, whether at school or church; its components of dancing, singing, and acting were naturally intriguing to me. Through high school, I’ve worked on different productions of plays both on the stage and behind the scenes. Though it’s only an extracurricular, in college, I hope to pursue the art of theater and the ability to use equipment.
School also introduced me to the sport of wrestling. Even though I’ve enjoyed sports such as gymnastics, soccer, and basketball my entire life, maintaining a 4.7 GPA along with balancing sports has always been challenging, but at the same time rewarding. During my junior year of high school, I decided to join the girls’ wrestling team. This decision proved to be a great one, because by the end of my second season, I was a captain of the team, a two-time county champion, a regional placer, a top-six wrestler in the state at 145 lbs, and considered a New Jersey women's wrestling all-star. With an overwhelming development of love for this sport, I look forward to continuing to compete competitively in college.
In addition to continuing theater and sports, I plan to indulge in the subject I’ve loved my entire life, math. Mathematics is a science and study devoted to numbers, structure, and discovering the truth behind patterns seen in everyday life. Math encourages queries in order to better understand the world around us in its own beautiful structure. I aspire to be a Forensic Accounting major.
The first baptist church of Crown Heights has expedited my growth in a plethora of ways. Along with my family, it is my true foundation. A constant in my life for all of the 17 years I have lived. Ultimately, this church has shown me what it is to be knowledgeable, to ask questions, and to learn the significance of the history around me. It’s shown me to help others in need, assisting elders, volunteering, donating, and just spreading joy. And finally, First Baptist has proven to build me by encouraging me to take chances, chase my passion, and become a kind person.
Ellison Polyne
My name is Ellison Micheaux Polyné, and I am a senior at Hunter College High School in New York City. This fall, I will pursue a major in Film, Radio, and Television at Northwestern University, with a minor in Business Enterprise.
Growing up as an only child, I quickly learned how to entertain and occupy myself using my imagination, creating short skits and stop motion animation films using iMovie on my father’s iPad. Through this informal experience as producer, editor, and music supervisor of my own work, I developed a passion for storytelling and a commitment to using media as a tool for awareness and change.
At Hunter, I was a founding member of the first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program in 10th grade, where I helped produce a short campaign advertisement promoting the importance of cultural, religious, and socioeconomic inclusion both inside the classroom and in our communities. The response to the video was overwhelming, and after our first year, student interest in the program spiked. As a senior member of the club, I was able to work alongside younger students to lead memorable classroom discussions on topics such as “Empathy and Active Listening” and “The Dangers of Microaggressions.” Seeing the positive impact that media has on the development of the DEI initiative demonstrated how video and political perspectives can be used to raise awareness on issues like food insecurity. This social and economic issue centered on hunger has been a critical focus of my junior and senior year (at my local food pantry), in which I learned how everyday Spanish Harlem residents are faced with the challenges of citizenship status, employment and access to healthy food choices.
It is exciting to see how my interest in politics and culture outside of the classroom has found its way into my academic and artistic interests in high school. In my AP Art course, I recently completed my first portfolio of 15 pieces composed of drawings, collages, and acrylic paintings, examining the question French philosopher Roland Barthes posed: “What is Sport?” My art illustrated the profound physical and psychological impact that soccer has had on my youth, particularly within the realms of coaching and fitness. The uplifting and demoralizing experiences with the sport prepared me for opportunities to mentor and coach younger student athletes in my neighborhood and school community. I use this beautiful game to teach not only the fundamentals, but also lifelong lessons of perseverance and discipline.
The Hesus Fund Scholarship would allow me to help address major academic costs, such as tuition, housing, books and artistic resources, and software. My hope is to tell stories that reflect underrepresented voices and build a more inclusive creative space. The entertainment industry, both the business and creative side, can be an incredibly difficult space to enter and negotiate. However, this scholarship would be a generous contribution and investment in me and my dreams of becoming a young black creative with business and technological skills.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Kelly Diaz
“Believe in yourself, take on your challenges,
dig deep within yourself to conquer fears.”
– Chantal Sutherland
I used to think quotes like this didn’t make any sense. How could a sentence change anything?
Back then, I believed mindset had nothing to do with outcome. If I couldn’t do something, why bother trying? That was the version of me that existed before my sophomore year of high school—before my friend introduced me to TriLatino, a triathlon program that trains students and adults in swimming, biking, and running.
When I first heard about it, I laughed—I couldn’t swim, couldn’t ride a bike, and the only running I did was when I was late to class, which didn’t happen often. But the program was free, and my friend promised there would be coaches to help me. I signed up that day, not knowing that I was signing up for one of the most transformative experiences of my life.
At my first swim practice, I was embarrassed and frustrated. I didn’t know how to swim, and I panicked every time my face went underwater. I kept comparing myself to everyone else, thinking I’d never catch up. But my coach taught me to repeat the phrase “I am calm. I am strong.” I was desperate to improve, so I tried it, and it worked. That simple phrase helped me stay grounded, even when I was swimming in open ocean water at Coney Island, facing a new fear: the unknown below. Swimming taught me how to “dig deep” and conquer fears, one breath at a time.
Learning to ride a bike brought its own set of challenges. I had never learned before, and my fear of falling was intense. Each practice was physically and mentally exhausting. But again, I leaned into the mindset my coaches taught me: “I can do this.” The day I finally found balance and felt the wind rush past me as I rode through the park, everything changed. I had turned something I feared into something I loved. During my first race, I was in an accident that landed me in the ICU. And all I could think about when I woke up? Getting back on the bike. That moment taught me to take on my challenges, no matter how many times I fall.
Running was the hardest for me. It pushed me mentally more than anything else. It was where I wanted to give up the most, but also where I discovered how powerful belief in myself could be. Every painful step became a lesson in resilience. I realized mindset isn’t just part of success, it is success. Crossing the finish line at my first triathlon felt incredible. But nothing compared to finishing at the national championship in Atlantic City, where I placed first in my division. My bike coach ran up to hug me, a coach who had always pushed me to do more and believe in my potential. He later told me that moment was the highlight of his triathlon career, and hearing that made me realize how far I’d come.
Even though triathlon is an individual sport, I’ve never felt alone. My team is always at the finish line waiting, cheering, and hugging me when I cross. That’s when I truly learned what it feels like to be part of a team.
TriLatino didn’t just teach me how to swim, bike, and run, it taught me how to advocate for myself and step out of my comfort zone. As a kid, adults always said that “speaking up” should be one of my goals. With this program, I finally understood why. Advocacy is not just about being heard, it’s about believing that your voice matters. That you matter.
Now, I’m looking to start training for my next national race in Milwaukee. Triathlon has shown me the importance of physical and mental health, but also discipline, and the strength that comes from believing in yourself. These lessons continue to shape how I move through life, whether in academics, athletics, or relationships. In college and beyond, I plan to carry this mindset with me: facing challenges head-on, staying grounded in the face of fear, and lifting others up as I grow. Because now, I believe in quotes like the one Chantal Sutherland said. I believe in myself.
This fall, I’m starting at CUNY Hunter College to study computer science. I’ve seen how powerful technology can be, and just like my coaches helped me find my potential, I want to use technology to help others discover theirs.
Devin Avant
I’m writing this letter to express both my gratitude for your time and my sincere hope to be considered for the Hesus Fund scholarship. Life has a way of testing us, and over the past few years, I’ve faced trials that have shaped me into a more focused, resilient, and driven individual. While I’ve never been one to ask for sympathy, I do believe my story reflects the perseverance your scholarship seeks to recognize.
The recent loss of my father has been the most profound moment of my life. It hasn’t just been grief, but disorientation. He wasn’t just a parent; he was my compass. Losing him left a silence that echoed through every part of my life. I hear his voice every morning when I wake up. I find myself asking myself what he would think with every decision I make. But through that pain, I’ve found clarity. I realized that the best way to honor his legacy wasn’t through mourning, but through his greatest lesson, which is perseverance. I committed myself to continuing my education, not just for me, but for the values he instilled in me.
A major challenge I faced was the loss of my scholarship at my previous institution. At the time, I was studying a major I wasn’t passionate about, and was one that I had pursued more out of pressure than genuine interest.
I knew deep down that it wasn’t where I belonged, and ultimately made the difficult decision to change my major and transfer schools. That decision cost me financially, but it gave me something far more valuable, which is clarity and passion for my future.
Since transferring, I’ve taken control of my educational journey. I now study a subject that inspires me and fuels my long-term goals. I earned a job in the Brooklyn Supreme Civil Court that allows me to cover my tuition and expenses so that my family, especially my mother, doesn’t have to carry the financial burden.
Working full-time while being a full-time student hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it. It’s taught me discipline, time management, and the importance of investing in my own growth.
I am currently at Nassau Community College. I am transferring to the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) to finish my Political Science degree and thereafter pursue a law school degree. This scholarship would not only provide me with financial relief but also affirm the progress I’ve made despite the setbacks I’ve endured. I’m not asking for a handout, nor will I ever. I’m asking for a hand-up, so I can continue climbing toward the life I’ve worked so hard to build and continue chasing my dreams. Thank you for the consideration.
No matter the outcome, I remain committed to my goals and to making a meaningful impact in my community and beyond.
With gratitude,
Deven Avant
